Karachi’s ‘World Book Fair’ opens at Expo Center

Hundreds of students, readers and books thronged the Expo Center on Thursday as the Karachi World Book Fair kicked off, signaling renewed interest in reading and literary culture in the city. The five-day exhibition will continue till December 22.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah as the chief guest while the President of Pakistan Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah was the guest of honour. Other prominent attendees included Publishers and Booksellers Association President Kamran Noorani, Director National Book Foundation Kamran Jahangir and Karachi International Book Fair Organizer Waqar Mateen Khan.
According to the organizers, the fair features 140 local publishers and 40 foreign exhibitors from 17 countries, with a total of 329 book stalls in three halls of the Expo Centre. The fair offers a wide range of titles, including fiction, scientific and research publications, and books on Islamic studies and audiology.

Books are sold at discounted prices, with a special emphasis on interesting and distinctive titles for children. Organizers said the participation of students from various schools was highly encouraging and reflected the growing interest in reading among the younger generation.

Speaking at the event, Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that seeing thousands of children attracted to books revived hope for a better future. He added that the Pakistan Arts Council will continue to support positive and constructive initiatives in Karachi.
Addressing the gathering, Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah described books as the foundation of culture and the driving force behind the evolution of human society. He said that the spread of knowledge would not have been possible without the invention of paper and the printing press. The minister also shared that billions of rupees have been allocated to schools in Sindh, with financial powers now devolved directly to schools.
He also highlighted the challenges faced by publishers, saying that high taxes on book production create difficulties and must be reduced to encourage publishing and reading.

Organizers and participants see the Karachi International Book Fair as an important cultural and educational event, attracting a large number of students, teachers and members of the public.